Material handling apparatus



Sept. 20,1955 J. c. NOFZIGER ETAL 2,718,069

MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed t. 5, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. J'a C1 A/ofzvyer BY A/frea [/MQ J Sept. 20, 1955 J. C. NOFZIGER ET AL MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 5, 1951 INVENTOR. Jqy C. A/af (yer 4/frea 1/ a II: BY

lt'farfiej p 0, 1955 J. c. NOFZIGER ETAL 2,718,069

MATERIAL. HANDLING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 5. 1951 i srr Ref

w M g United States Patent Office Patented Sept. 20, 1955 MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Jay C. Nofziger and Alfred Lima, Jr., Los Angeles, Calif.; said Lima, Jr. assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, to said Nofziger Application October 5, 1951, Serial No. 249,894

3 Claims. (Cl. 34-232) This invention has to do with material handling apparatus and it is a general object of the invention to provide apparatus for handling various materials incidental to the treatment or processing thereof as by fluids, whether gases, vapors or liquids or combinations thereof, and at various temperatures.

Materials of various kinds and in various forms are commonly subjected to treatment by fluids, Whether gases, vapors or liquids or combinations of gases, vapors and liquids used successively or simultaneously, and in some instances such treatments are carried out at normal temperatures, that is, without cooling or heating, whereas in other cases they are carried out at other than normal temperatures, for example, at high temperatures. An examples-of such a situation is the treatment of wood or lumber. In the case of such material the treatments vary widely. In some instances the treatments are for the purpose of drying wood, in others the purpose is to .give the wood special characteristics, as for'instance, resistance to fire or possibly resistance to termites or other destructive forms of life, etc. Since the handling or treatment of wood, and particularly Wood in the form of boards or planks, presents a typical adaptation of the invention, this particular material will be referred to in detail, it being understood, however, that so far as the principles of the invention are concerned the material treated may be other than wood, in fact, it may vary widely as various conditions are encountered.

A general object of this invention is to provide material handling apparatus by means of which quantities of material, say, for instance, a plurality of boards of wood, or like material, can be handled or treated so that each unit of material is eflectively contacted and, consequently, treated, to the end that the entire mass or body of material treated is subjected to uniform, as well as effective and thorough, treatment.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the general character referred to employing in general, a housing that can be closed, a carriage for handling a supply of material and operable into and out of the housing, and racks adapted to be incorporated with the-material on the carriage and supplied with fluid so that the fluid is distributed onto the material throughout the mass or body of material that is located on the carriage.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus.

of the general character referred to in which the racks employed in connection with the body of material are of simple, inexpensive construction and are light and easily handled, making it convenient and practical to apply them to and remove them from the material.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the general character referred to including structure by which fluid introduced from the exterior of the housing is effectively, dependably, and efliciently handled within the housing so that it is conducted from the supply line that enters the housing to the racks incorporated with the material so that there is a uniform and desired distribu-" tion of fluid to the material.

The apparatus incorporating the invention includes, generally, a housing normally closed and provided with one or more closures operable to admit or pass the carriage. In the preferred construction the housing has a tubular body horizontally disposed and where treatment is at other than normal temperatures insulation is preferably provided in connection with the housing. A track enters the housing from the exterior thereof and preferably involves rails extending lengthwise in the body of the housing at the lower portion thereof and the rails preferably project from or beyond the ends of the housing. The material carriage is operable along the track and is characterized by a horizontally disposed flat platform and supporting wheels that depend from the platform and engage the rails of the track. The platform is preferably an open, frame-like structure formed of longitudinal beams, spindles between the beams and braces stabilizing the structure. A plurality of racks cooperates with the carrier in handling the material to be treated. The racks are preferably alike and each is a unitary device of simple, open, frame-like construction. In a typical situation where material is in the form of boards, an elongate series of racks is applied to the platform of the carriage, a layer of boards is applied on said series of racks, then a second series of racks is applied to the boards to receive another layer .of boards, and in this manner a stack of boards and racks is applied to the carriage and in the stack the layers of boards are separated by the racks. These racks take the place of the customary separating sticks used in stacking lumber. A fluid supply means delivers fluid for treatment to the housing and a fluid distributing means is provided in connection with the racks. In a preferred construction members of the racks are tubular and such as to handle fluid, and fluid distributing ducts are supplied by the fluid handling members of the racks and are provided with nozzles, or the like, that distribute the fluid. A fluid transfer means is provided between the supply line that delivers fluid to the housing and the several racks employed in connection with the material. In a preferred construction an elongate beam of the carriage is tubular and such as to handle fluid. A flexible fluid handling connection connects this beam of the carriage with the supply line. Manifolds are carried by and project up from the tubular fluid handling beam of the carriage and releasable fluid connections are provided between the manifolds and the racks. A retaining means is provided and serves to retain the stack of material and racks in the desired form on the carriage and in a typical form this means involves posts projecting up from the beams of the carriage and arms on the post that overlie the assembly of material and racks. Exhaust means are provided in connection with the housing, it being preferred, ordinarily, to provide a vent in the top of the housing to handle gasses or vapors, and a liquid outlet in the bottom of the housing to handle liquids that accumulate there.

The various objects and features of our invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view of a typical apparatus embodying the invention, showing a carriage with a stack of material and racks located thereon and connected with the fluid supply so that the material is subject to treatment. Fig. 2 is an enlarged, detailed, transverse sectional view, being a viewtaken as indicated by line 22 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the carriage provided by the invention, showing it apart from other portions of the apparatus and showing the fluid handling manifolds in connection with the carriage. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing two series of racks on-the carriage with an intervening layer of parts between the two series of racks, and showing the racks connected with the manifolds to be supplied with fluid therefrom. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 4, illustrating the relationship of the racks and the layer of boards and showing the manner in which the supporting wheel of the carriage is mounted. Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of one of the racks showing it apart from other elements of the structure. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detailed sectional view ofthenozzles included in the structure, being an enlarged view taken as indicated by line 77 on Fig. 6. Fig. 58 is a plan view taken as indicated by line 88 on Fig. '7. Fig. 9 is .an enlarged detailed view taken as indicated by line 9-9 on Fig. 7 and Fig. 10 is a view. illustrating .a portion of a manifold showing quick coupling fluid handling connections joined thereto.

The apparatus provided by this invention includes, generally, a housing A, a track '13 entering the housing, a material carrier C operable along the track into and out of the housing, a plurality of racks D co-operating with the carrier in handling material to be treated, a fluid supply means E provided for delivering fluid to the housing, fluid distributing means F combined with or related to the racks D, fluid transfer means G handling fluid in the housing, and transferring it from the means E to the means F, retaining means H for retaining racks and material assembled on the carriage, a liquid exhausting or draining means I and a vapor exhaust K, and various other elements, the details of which appear in the drawings and will be apparent from the following description.

The housing A may, in practice, vary widely in form and construction and in general it is preferably a stationary element or structure providing a closed chamber and it is preferably constructed with one or more closures by which access is provided to the interior of the housing. In the case illustrated the housing involves an elongate tubular bodylll supported by suitable mounting means 11 so that it is horizontally disposed. Ends 12 close the two ends of the tubular body it and each end 12 is provided with a closure section 1.3. In the drawings each closure section 13 is shown carried by a hinge 14 located at its upper end or edge. Through this construction the closure sections can be opened or swung outwardly as indicated by the arrows in Fig. l, to up or substantially horizontal posi- 4 tions where the ends of the housing body are open, providing substantially free access to the interior of the housing. In the case illustrated suitable counterbalances 15 are provided in connection with the closure sections 13 and in practice various accessories such as handles 16, and the like, can be provided in connection with the closure sections, as circumstances require.

It is to be understood that in practice the size, form, and construction of the housing A may be varied to best suit the treatment to be carried out by the apparatus and it is to be understood that when the housing is to beused in carrying out a treatment with fluid at other than normal temperature a jacket 17 of insulation can be provided on the housing, as shown in the drawings.

The track B in the case illustrated is a straight horizontal track extending longitudinally through the housing body 10 at the lower portion thereof and in the case illustrated the track is formed of rails 20 carried on suitable supports 21 and the rails have end extensions 22 that project beyond the housing A at the ends thereof, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1. It will be understood that the rail extensions 22 can be of any suitable length or can be extended to any desired destinations, as circumstances require.

The material carrier C is operable along the track B and in .its preferred form it is characterized by a simple, flat, horizontally disposed platform with a suitable wheel support. In the case illustrated the carrier B which is best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, includes longitudinal beams 25, transverse spreaders 26 between the beams and spaced apart lengthwise of the carrier, and a plurality of braces 27 shown as diagonally disposed to give the structure the desired rigidity. In the construction illustrated brackets 28 are carried by and extend between adjacent spreaders 26 and support mountings 29 that carry the axles 30 on which the supporting wheels 31 are carried. The mountings 29 are such as to depend from the structure or platform formed by the elements 25, 26 and 27 so that the wheels 31 are exposed and are located to properly engage and operate along the rails 24 The racks D provided by the invention may, in practice, be varied in size, form and construction to best accommodate the service to be performed. However, in accordance with the preferred form of the invention, and as shown in the drawings, the several racks are alike and are of simple light construction. Each rack D, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6 of the drawings, is a thin or flat unit, preferably rectangular in plan configuration, and is of open frame-like construction. The structure shown in the drawings involves aplurality of elongate, rigid, frame members which define the margins of the rack and which are joined together at the corners 31 of the rack. Suitable braces 32 are shown carried by and extending between opposite frame members 35 of the rack. In a typical situation, as, for instance, in a case such as is shown in the drawings, each rack is preferably such as to extend across the material carrier C from one side to the other thereof, and the length of the carrier C is related to the racks so that a given number of racks forms a series that is substantially coextensive with the carrier. In the case illustrated each rack extends completely across the carrier from one side to the other and three carriers arranged adjacent each other in a series extend from one end of the carrier to the other. The fluid supply means E is provided to deliver the desired fluid to the housing A and-in the case illustrated it is shown as involving a fluid supply line entering the housing from the exterior thereof and equipped with a suitable control valve 41. tis to be understood that the supply line 40 or other elements ofthe supply means E may, in practice, be varied to accommodate or properly handle the fluid involved. For example, in some cases the fluid may be hot or dry, or hot dry air, or other gas, whereas in other cases the fluid may be liquid or a combination of liquid, vapor and gas. Further, in some cases the fluid may be at normal temperatures, that is, neither heated nor cooled, whereas in other cases it may vary widely from normal temperatures, that is, it may be chilled or it may be heated. Furthermore, the fluid may be used at any desired pressure, say, for instance, but a few pounds above or below atmospheric pressure, whereas in other cases it may be used at very high or superatmospheric pressures or at very low orsubatmospheric pressures.

The fluid distributing means F provides structure at or combined with each rack D. In the preferred form of the invention the frame members, or at least certain of the frame members, of each rack are tubular and such as to handlefluid, and the means F involves or includes fluid distributing ducts connected to and supplied with fluid from one or more of the tubular members 35. In the case illustrated and as best shown in Fig. 6, there are several laterally spaced and parallel ducts 45 connected to and extending between opposite frame members 35 so that fluid enters the ducts from each or both ends.

In accordance with the invention each duct 45 is provided with one or more nozzles, or the like, and these are spaced along the ducts and they are preferably spaced apart or related so that when fluid is being discharged from the several nozzles there is a substantially uniform flow or distribution of fluid throughout the entire area or extent of the rack. The elements we refer to as nozzles may be separate or indirect fluid handling or spraying devices, or they may be incorporated with or in theducts as, part thereof. In some cases the equivalent of the nozzles may be established by providing portions of the ducts with simple fluid passing openings or orifices.

The nozzle construction shown is such as to effectively distribute the fluid generally parallel with the plane of the rack D and, as best shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, each nozzle involves a port or fluid handling passage 50 opening upwardly in a duct 45, a stem 46 secured to the duct at the side opposite the port, and a head 47 on the stem spaced above the top of the duct and overlying the port. In the particular case illustrated the stern has a lower end portion 48 threaded into an opening 49 provided in the duct 45 diametrically opposite the port 50 so that the stem can be rotated to adjust the position of the head 47 above the duct 45. A lock nut 55 threaded on the stem serves to set it against working or shifting from the desired adjusted position.

The stem is concentric with the port 50 and is smaller in diameter than the port so that there is an annular fluid handling passage 56 opening upwardly. The head 47 on the upper end of the stem 46 has a flat bottom 57 overlying the annular passage 56 so that at least part of the fluid issuing upwardly through the passage 56 engages or impinges against the face 57 and is directed horizontally thereby. In the preferred construction it is desired that a certain or limited amount of fluid be allowed to issue somewhat upwardly or in a manner other than horizontally, and it has been found advantageous, in practice, to provide the head 47 with crossed slots 60 which are verti cally disposed and open at the flat face 57. The slots thus provide four equally spaced openings 61 at the head 47 which allow for a certain amount of fluid to pass upwardly through the head with consequent distribution of fluid immediately above the head. The fluid transfer means G is provided to conduct fluid from the supply means E to the distributing means F and, in accordance with the invention, it is preferably characterized by one or more vertical manifolds 70 on or related to the carriage. It is preferred that the manifolds be on the carriage to be operated therewith so that the desired quick connections can be established between the racks D and the manifold prior to the carriage being introduced into the housing.

In the preferred construction one of the beams 25 designed as beam X of the carriage C, is tubular in form and such as to handle fluid. A flexible fluid handling connection 71 is joined to and is in communication with one end of the tubular beam X and a releasable connection 72 is provided on the other end of the flexible element 71 and the supply line 40 at the interior of the housing, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. In the preferred form of the invention as shown in the drawings there are several manifolds 70 and these are carried by the carrier to project upwardly therefrom at one side of the carrier. in the preferred arrangement the standards 70 are in communication with, in fact they are carried by, the tubular beam X of the carrier and they are spaced apart lengthwise of the carrier in a manner such as is shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings.

Releasable fluid connections are provided between the racks and the manifolds and in practice one or more such connections can be provided between each rack and one or more of the manifolds. In the case illustrated the tubular members of each rack in communication with the ducts 45 of the rack have flexible fluid handling lines 80 joined thereto and projecting from corners of the rack. Releasable connectors 81 are provided on the outer ends of the lines 80 and these are adapted to be connected to the manifolds 70, as for instance, to fluid handling branches 85 of the manifolds. In the drawings the connectors 81 are shown as having threaded connection with the branches of the manifolds, whereas it is to be understood that, in practice, any suitable quick acting releasable connectors can be employed to make the desired fluid connections between the branches of the manifolds and the fluid handling lines 80.

The retaining means H provided by the invention serves to releasably retain the assembled racks and material on the carrier C and in the case illustrated the means H is shown as including posts 90 projecting upwardly from the platform of the carrier at the sides of the carrier, which posts have arms 91 projecting from their upper ends to overlie the assembled material and racks. Suitable post holders 92, preferably tubular fixtures, are provided on the sides of the platform to receive the lower end portions of the posts 90. In practice the post holders 92 when made of suflicient length will support the posts 90 in the desired upright positions with the arms 91 engaged with or overlying the assembly of material and racks.

The vapor vent K may be an ordinary simple flue or vapor handling duct in communication with the interior of the housing A. For the purpose of handling most gases or vapors this duct is preferably connected into the top of the body of the housing and, in practice, it may extend to, or have connected to or in it, any desired or necessary auxiliary devices or apparatus. The liquid handling exhaust or drain is preferably connected to the lowermost portion or bottom of the housing body 10 so that as liquid accumulates in the bottom of the hous ing it is drained therefrom. In practice, the liquid exhaust may extend to, or have connected to or in it, any desired or necessary auxiliary devices or apparatus.

In employing the apparatus of the present invention a carrier C is preferably provided with an assembly of racks D and material M to be treated. In a typical situation the material M may be boards or lengths of wood, or the like. In such case the racks and the material are assembled in alternating layers, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings and the several lines projecting from the corners of the racks are coupled to the manifolds by the connectors 81. If desired or necessary the retaining means or posts are employed or can be applied to, the assembly of material and racks. When the desired assembly has been established on the carrier it can be operated or rolled into the housing A through an open end thereof, following which the end may be closed by operation of the closure portion 13 to the normal closed position such as is shown in Fig. 1. It is to be understood, of course, that the fluid handling connection 71 in connection with or provided on the tubular beam of the carrier is connected to the supply line 40, thus establishing the several manifolds on the carrier in fluid connection with the supply line 40. When the valve 41 is opened fluid is free to flow through the flexible fluid connection 71 to the tubular beam of the carrier from which it enters the manifolds 70. From the manifolds the fluid is conducted by the lines 80 to the tubular members 35 of the rack which, in turn, supply the ducts 15 on which the nozzles are located. The fluid issues from the nozzles and, since there are racks beneath each layer of material and a plurality of nozzles in connection with each rack, there is an effective distribution of fluid immediately adjacent and between each layer of material.

From the foregoing description it will be readily understood that the structure of the present invention makes possible effective, uniform distribution of fluid to the layers of material incorporated in the stack on the carrier, making it possible to effectively and uniformly treat each and every piece of material in the entire mass on the carrier. When the desired treatment has been completed the valve 41 is closed and the connector 72 released, whereupon an end closure of the housing can be opened and the carrier operated along the track and out of the housing. In practice, a plurality of carriers can be operated in connection with a single housing, so that as one carrier is being handled in the housing another can be loaded and one previously employed can be unloaded.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of our invention, we do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to ourselves any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. Apparatus for handling material including, a housing defining a chamber and having a closure providing access to the chamber, a track extending into the housing from the exterior thereof, a carrier operable along the track and into and out of the housing, a plurality of like relatively movable racks adapted to be engaged and com bined with material in stacked relation on the carrier, a fluid supply means adapted to deliver fluid at the interior of the housing, fluid distributing means at the racks, and fluid conducting means whereby fluid from the supply means is delivered to the distributing means for distribution thereby and including, a fluid conducting structure, a releasable fluid handling connection coupling said structrue and the supply means, and releasable fluid handling connections releasably coupling the said structure and the distributing means, said structure including a vertically disposed manifold carried by the carrier and projecting upward therefrom.

2. Apparatus for handling material including, a housing defining a chamber and having a closure providing access to the chamber, a track extending into the housing from the exterior thereof, a carrier operable along the track and into and out of the housing and including a flat horizontal platform and wheels engaging the track and supporting the platform, the platform including an elongate tubular fluid conducting'beam, a plurality of like relatively movable open frame-like racks adapted to be engaged and combined with material in stacked relation on the platform of the carrier, a fluid supply means adapted to deliver fluid at the interior of the housing, fluid distributing means at the racks Within the confines thereof, a fluid handling connection releasably coupling said beam and the supply means, and fluid handling connections connected to and extending between the beam and the distributing means.

3. Apparatus for handling material including, a housing defining a chamber and having a closure providing access to the chamber, a track extending into the housing from the exterior thereof, a carrier operable along the track and into and out of the housing and including an elongate flat horizontal substantially rectangular platform and wheels engaging the track and supporting the platform, the platform including an elongate tubular fluid conducting beam at one side thereof, a plurality of flat relatively movable racks adapted to be engaged and combined with material in stack relation on the platform of the carrier, a fluid supply means adapted to deliver fluid at the interior of the housing, fluid distributing means at the racks and within the confines thereof, a fluid handling connection releasably coupling said beam and the supply means, a manifold carried by and projecting up from the beam and supplied with fluid from the beam, and flexible fluid handling connections releasably coupling the manifold and the fluid distributing means.

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